Engine cooling system cleaner



Nov. 6, 1956 H. T. COLBY COOLING SYSTEM CLEANER ENGINE Filed Sept. 10,1951 Fig.3;

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United States Patent ENGINE COQLING SYSTEM CLEANER Harold '1. Colby,Cudahy, Wis.

Application September 10, 1951, Serial No. 245,775

1 Claim. (Cl. 134-57) This invention pertains generally to an apparatusfor cleaning cooling systems of fluid cooled internal combustionengines, and more particularly to a unit for direct attachment to theradiator of the system for cleaning and flushing the radiator,connections and cooling compartments of a combustion engine ofstationary, automotive or marine type.

Aside from the primitive methods of cleaning engine cooling systems bythe use of solvents and subsequent flushing with fresh water introducedthrough the radiator and subsequently discharged through the radiatordrain, several machines have been devised for circulating solvent andrinsing fluid through the radiator and engine block. However, suchmachines are costly to manufacture and operate, and a tedious operationusually is required in removing several of the radiator and engineconnections in order to attach the cleaning machine. Also, presentmachines usually incorporate an auxiliary pump, which frequently has acapacity of greater or lesser pressure than that for which the coolingsystem is designed, which results in either insuflicient circulation ofthe cleaning fluid, or causes forced leaks in the connections andradiator core.

The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoingobjections by the provision of a comparatively simple and inexpensiveattachment for direct connection to the filling neck of a coolingradiator to effectively clean and flush the entire cooling system of afluid cooled internal combustion engine, without disconnection orremoval of parts of the system, other than the radiator filling cap.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object of the presentinvention resides in the provision of a fitting for attachment toconventional radiator filling spouts, and provided with inlet and outletcommunications in addition to a thermostat switch for either controllingthe motor ignition circuit to kill the engine, or a circuit connectedwith either a visible or audible signal, in the event of over-heating ofthe motor.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus of the foregoing type, dependent solely for its operation uponthe conventional fluid circulating pump with which the engine isequipped, and capable of maintaining sufiicient pressure within thecooling system to cause enough agitation or swirl of the cleaning andflushing fluid to hold heavy particles or scales in suspension foreifective discharge through the drain outlets of the motor block andradiator.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in thenovel features of construction fully described in the specification, andmore particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understoodthat modifications in structure and design are contemplated within thescope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a simple schematic view of a fluid cooled internalcombustion engine, connected to a radiator to which the presentinvention is attached;

Patented Nov. 6, 1956 Figure 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view ofa fitting incorporating features of the present invention; and

Figure 3 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, Fdesignates generally a fitting constituting the salient feature of thepresent invention. The fitting F consists of a T-shaped tubular casing1, the upper open end of which is closed by a removable filling cap 2,of any conventional construction. To attach the fitting 1 to the fillingneck 3 of a conventional radiator 4, an adaptor 5 is threaded upon thelower end of the fitting.

Inasmuch as conventional filling necks vary, the adaptor is designed toaccommodate two general types of necks, namely, those provided with aninternal depend ing flange 6, such as shown in Figure 2, or necks havingan external flange (not shown). To accommodate the radiator neckillustrated, the adaptor 5 is provided with a pair of diametricallyopposed lugs 7, which pass through corresponding openings 8 formed inthe top flange of the spout, and upon slight rotation of the adaptor,they engage the lower edge of the depending flange 6 to lock the fitting1 on the neck. The opposite end of the adaptor 5 is provided with anannular flange 9 which abuts a stretchable gasket or washer 10 engagingthe top of the filling spout 3 to efiectively seal the same duringoperation of the invention.

In types of radiator necks having external flanges, the adaptor isreversed and the gasket is placed on the opposite side of the flange 9to engage and seal the top of the spout. A pair of hooks 11 providedwith thumb nuts 12, carried by lugs 13 formed on the flange 9 of theadaptor, are engaged under the external flange to lock the adaptorthereon.

The tubular casing 1, adjacent its upper end, is provided with an outletduct 14 to which a rubber hose 15 is attached to deliver fluid to aconvenient drain or receptacle. Secured in the lower end of the tube isan elbow inlet duct 16 upon which a hose 17 is clamped for attachment toa service outlet or other source of water supply under pressure. Theinner end of the duct 16 is directed downwardly and provided with arelatively short piece of flexible or rubber tubing 18, extending belowthe top of any baflle plates 20 or other obstructions, positioned withinthe radiator casing 4. Flexibility of the tube 18 permits the same tobend to avoid such obstructions as may be encountered and deliver fluidat a point below the level of the radiator over-flow pipe 21, which, inthe present instance, is shown communicating with the filling spout 3.

A thermostat switch 22 for controlling an electric circuit C is threadedinto the branch 23 of the tubular T fitting 1, with the thermostaticelement 22' extending well into the tube 1 for quick responsive actionto fluid temperature.

Figure l schematically illustrates a typical fluid cooled combustionengine assembly, in which the motor block M carries a circulating pumpP, operated by a pulley p connected with a fan belt or other form ofdrive. In turn, the pump P is connected with the lower portion of theradiator 4 through a hose connection 24, and delivers fluid from theradiator to the motor block. Also, the motor block is connected to theupper portion of the radiator 4 through a hose connection 25. A plug 25is provided for draining the radiator 4, While a pet cock 27, secured inthe motor block, allows draining of the same.

In the preferred method of operation, the cooling system, including theradiator, connections and motor block, is initially drained by openingthe plug 26 and pet cock 27, following which the system can be flushedwith fresh water supplied to the fitting F through the service line 17.This is for the purpose of not only draining the old fluid,

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but also for removing loose sediment, scale and accumulation from'thesystem.

Upon completion of the initial purging operation, the drainplug .26 andpetzcock 27 are closed, and the lower 'endof the radiator over flow pipe21iis1closedwitha cork orsuitableplug. 28. W solvent, in either powderedor liquid form, is: then'introduced into thesystem through the openingin the top A necessary amount of chemical By means of the pump P, thesolvent solution is then circulated throughthe entire cooling system,including the. radiator, connections and motor block, and after a periodof time suflicient to dissolve and loosen all accumulation and scaleformed in the system, the system may be flushed by again supplying-freshfluid through the line17. Upon completion of the flushing operation, thefresh water supply iscut off and the drain plug 26 and engine pet cockare open to allow complete drainage of the system before filling thesame with fresh cooling fluid,

- after which the drain openings are closed and the plug 28" ofthe-over-flow pipe are removed. The fitting F is then replaced with theusual radiator filling cap and the system is in condition for normaloperation.

During the cleaning and fin shing operation, in the event thatv thefluid becomes over-heated at any time,

the thermostat switch 22 is efiective to control'the electric circuit C,which, as diagrammatically shown in Figure '1,

may be connectedwith theswitch in'the ignition system, a visible signal,or an audible signal, designated as S. In the first instance, operationof the thermostat switch 22 opens the ignition system to stop'theengine, while in other instances a visible signal is given to theoperator so that the motor may be cut ofi before over-heating.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the capacity of theoutlet duct 14 is so proportioned in relation to the inlet. duct 16 andthe pressure fluid introduced through the duct, as to maintain a'slightpressure Within the system during the cleaning. andflushing operation.

The result of this pressure is to cause sufiicient swirl and agitationof the cleaning fluid to hold heavy particles 7 of dirt and scale insuspension so that they'will be completely discharged through the line15, or through the drain plug '25 and the pet cock 27.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, it will be apparent that an exceedingly simpleandcomparatively inexpensive device has been devised for eif'ectivelycleaning'combu'stion engine cooling systems, at minimumcost. Tediousoperations required in removing connectionsbetween the motor block andradiator, as required in conventional machines now on the market, areentirely eliminatedl.

Also, due to the fact thatthe cleansing and purging operations areperformed under pressure created by a conventional pump designed for theparticular 'system,'

no loss of cleansing fluid is encountered, and excessive pressures donot occur to force leaks in-the radiator core and motor connections.

I claim:

A cleaning device for attachment to the filling neck of a radiator inthe cooling system of an internal combustion engine provided with afluid circulating pump, said device comprising a tubular fitting, aremovable cap for the upper endof said fitting, means for attaching thelower end of said tubular fittingon the filling'neck of :saidradiator,ducts at the upper and lower ends'of said fitting for introduction anddischarge of a flushing liquid'into the radiator, one of said ductsadapted to extend down into the body of: the radiator, a-thermostatioswitohextending into said tubular fitting, andmeans operativelyconnected to the thermostatic switch and operative in response to theoperation thereof to intenrupt the ignition system of the engine topreventoverheating of said cleaning fluid. V V

Referene'es Cited in the file of'this patent UNITED .STATES' PATENTS1,605,189- Hughes- 'Nov; 2, 1926 2,387,324

Glickman n Oct. 23, 1945"

